Head of Category - Group Directs HVDC

About us

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. And whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy. 

At National Grid, we work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value, and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organization, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

Our function covers a diverse range of categories from Indirect, IT & Digital, Network Operations (Maintenance & Repair), Gas equipment and Services to large scale Construction and Network Equipment, with a clear mission: to enable a clean, fair, and affordable energy future through commercial, responsible and innovative supply chain leadership.  
 

About the Role

Head of Category - Group Directs High Voltage Direct Current

Reporting into the VP Procurement for National Grid Ventures and Group Directs this role is accountable for a suite of dedicated multi-million categories which includes end to end ownership of strategy, market insights and risk management, strategic souring through to contract management. This role will have 4 Direct Reports and 12 indirect reports.

National Grid is leading the charge towards a Net Zero future in the UK and NE of USA. We recognize that decarbonizing our electric and gas systems will require resolving many questions and seeking new partnerships, technologies and transformative investments.  Over the next 5 years, we will be investing over £60bn across our UK and US businesses – nearly double the investment over the past 5 years.  This is an exciting time for our industry that is creating significant opportunities for National Grid; this is not just a moment in time; it's a game-changing era that will shape National Grid's success for decades to come.

Given this backdrop, our supply chains are facing an unprecedented set of challenges and are at the forefront of our plans, placing National Grid Procurement at the center of our Net Zero goals. We have set out an ambitious transformation plan, focused on becoming a client of choice for our supply partners whilst ensuring outstanding outcomes for our Business Units.  Our strategy revolves around significant changes in three core areas:

•    Partnering: We are forging closer ties with our supply chain, aligning ourselves more closely with each NG Group Business Unit (BU).
•    Scale: We are leveraging the immense scale of our group to unlock even greater potential. By harnessing our collective strength, we can achieve remarkable things.
•    Operational Transformation: We are revolutionizing the way we work as a team. Embracing new approaches and technologies, we are streamlining processes and making the day-to-day job simpler and more efficient.
 
 

What You'll Do

•    Work with the Executives to align Procurement activities with operating priorities. 

•    Be responsible for co-ordinating across the relevant Procurement teams to ensure they can provide business unit updates, insight and recommendations. 

•    Engage and drive strategic relationships with category critical suppliers, implement vendor and contract management strategies and ensure the supply chain is engaged and enabled to meet the business needs. 

•    Work effectively across the internal procurement teams to build deep category expertise in supply chain, risk identification and mitigation, sustainability and diversity strategies whilst ensuring compliance and benefit delivery. 

•    Develop and lead a comprehensive suite of category strategies for the Business Unit providing market capability and capacity intelligence, ensuring that maximum value is realised from the significant procurement spend, whilst securing supply, managing supply chain risks, and achieving sustainability objectives. 

•    Accountable for the development and implementation of procurement strategies and execution of the procurement priorities for the business unit. Providing strategic and commercial insight, supply chain sustainability insight, and supply chain risk (e.g. supply chain disruptions, price volatility, and quality) and mitigation recommendations 

•    Aligned to your category ownership, develop and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers to ensure continuous improvement, security of supply and value delivery.

•    Ensure rigorous management of contracts throughout their lifecycle (incl. implementing corrective actions when necessary). 

•    Work across teams and sub-functions within Procurement to support overall category management effort 

•    Lead a highly motivated, innovative and value-focused team, developing talent and a performance management culture that drives value through employee engagement which successfully meets or exceeds all strategic objectives for the area.
 

What You'll Need

• Previous procurement experience, delivering category excellence, levers across multiple category areas. 
• Ability to communicate dynamically at all levels within National Grid and externally to senior leaders within supplier organizations (including C level executives).
• Experience in building high performing teams, Track record of driving strategic change through category intelligence.
• Good understanding of broader business objectives and the implications of strategic planning and actions within the category on the regional/global businesses. 
• Expert influencing and negotiation skills to drive optimum value through the award of commercially sound contracts.
• Relationship management experience, driving commercial value and performance through major contracts.
• Degree level / relevant professional qualification such as CIPS or equivalent experience

More Information

This role is offered on a Full-Time, Permanent basis. 

We are also offering hybrid / flexible working where travel to the office will be as per business need. 

It is anticipated that some international business travel may be required as part of this role.

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